In honor of Black History Month, Spectator is publishing a series of profiles on notable black alumni scholars, activists, leaders, and more whose stories we have previously overlooked and failed to cover. The first article in the series features Raymond Brown, CC ’69, who came into the national spotlight during the 1968 protests as the leader of the Student Afro-American Society, a group that led the community—and inspired the nation—in protest against Columbia’s involvement in the Vietnam War and gentrification of Harlem. Brown is also a calligraphy-writing, yoga-practicing grandfather to a two-year-old boy.

Two cases of meningococcal disease have been diagnosed at the School of International and Public Affairs, University administrators announced this evening. Both students are being treated in St. Luke’s hospital, and the University is working with national health officials to continue prevention efforts.

Columbia has dedicated $185 million in an effort to diversify its faculty since 2005, by far the largest public commitment an Ivy League institution has made to such an initiative. But over the last decade, the percentage of full-time black faculty in Arts and Sciences has shown a nearly-steady decrease, the percentage of full-time Latinx faculty has stagnated, and the percentage of full-time female faculty has only increased incrementally—around 4 percent.

In his first year at Columbia, Sir Alex Halliday, director of the Earth Institute, has focused his efforts on leveraging the multidisciplinary nature of the institute to better combat climate change, increase student involvement in institute initiatives, and push for greater internal progress regarding sustainability on Columbia’s campus.

Peter Awn, former Dean of the School of General Studies, was struck in a car accident while walking home from campus Friday evening. He remains in critical but stable condition in the neuro-ICU at CUIMC, according to an email sent to GS students by GS Dean Lisa Rosen-Metsch this afternoon.

A lawsuit filed against Columbia and former General Studies Dean of Students Tom Harford was amended on Thursday to include new details of Harford’s alleged history of repeated sexual harassment as well as the University’s failure to address it, claiming that Columbia had knowledge of prior reports of his misconduct. The amended suit also alleges that the University retaliated and effectively forced the plaintiff to go on medical leave and subsequently drop out of school.

Niels Chardon-Boucaud, a masters student in the School of Engineering and Applied Science, died Friday, SEAS Dean Mary Boyce announced in an email sent to SEAS graduate students yesterday afternoon. He was 21 years old.

Finishing her first year in charge, Dean of General Studies Lisa Rosen-Metsch, GS ’90, has moved swiftly to address the growing needs of the school, renewing fundraising efforts to better engage its alumni, increasing resources for its significant veteran population, and establishing herself as an accessible administrator among the student body.